About IPWF – Interdenominational Pastors’ Wives Forum

About IPW Forum: HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In 2008, the Lord laid upon my heart a burden for Pastor’s wives, which has culminated in the ultimate vision for IPWF. Being a Pastor’s wife for over 27 years, and also privileged to work with and support over 2000 other Pastors’ wives for 13 of those years, I have observed and experienced firsthand the struggles, challenges and burdens of Pastors’ wives across ministries.

12

years

thus far

Our Vision

To Support, Encourage, Equip and Empower Pastor’s Wives for the peculiar work of ministry & to fulfil their life’s purpose

SUPPORT Pastor’s Wives by

Providing opportunities for mentoring and coaching including peer mentoring
Promoting enterprise, career and skills through beneficial schemes & networks, and
Providing legal and advisory support in the case of confirmed abuse or violence

ENCOURAGE Pastor’s Wives through

Organized regular prayer sessions, giving counsel and advise where needed, &
Creating opportunities for celebration, fellowship, retreats and sharing of ideas and good practice

EQUIP & EMPOWER Pastor’s Wives through

Organized Seminars on topical issues &
Organized Teachings on Leadership, Social graces and Etiquette, including capacity building training, for personal growth and development, all in a non-threatening and non-doctrinal environment

Our Mission

To Support, Encourage, Equip and Empower Pastor’s Wives for the peculiar work of ministry & to fulfil their life’s purpose

Our Trustees

laolu_ipwf_president

Pst Laolu Adefarasin

Board Chairperson

debola_atoyebi_ipwf_president

President (IPWF)

Board Secretary

Abayomi Olarinmoye

Financial Sec

tosin_rechard_ipwf

Tosin Richards

IPWF Trustee

Taiwo Omomia

IPWF Trustee

Dr. Funmi Akinola

IPWF Trustee

Want to be part

You too can make a change

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

In 2008, the Lord laid upon my heart a burden for Pastor’s wives, which has culminated in the ultimate vision for IPWF. Being a Pastor’s wife for over 27 years, and also privileged to work with and support over 2000 other Pastors’ wives for 13 of those years, I have observed and experienced firsthand the struggles, challenges and burdens of Pastors’ wives across ministries. With every confidential letter or email that I received from Pastors wives, with every counsel that I had to give and every intervention plan that I had to put in place, and every help that I had to render, my resolve to provide the much-needed support for this special group of women was further strengthened.

On Labour Day, May 1st 2017, the burden for Pastor’s Wives found expression in a maiden programme for Pastor’s Wives tagged ‘The Shepherd’s Helpmeet’ – A Breakfast and Open Forum meeting, where the vision was shared and opportunities provided for fellowship and discussions. That programme attracted about 300 Pastor’s Wives from different denominations; Orthodox, Evangelical and Pentecostal. The camaraderie exhibited by the Pastor’s Wives in attendance and the ease with which they shared and bonded with each other, was indeed a testimonial to the fact that the meeting was pulling on the heart strings of God, and was long overdue.

As the first meeting was a spontaneous response to a burden that refused to leave, I made no proper plans for another meeting, until I started receiving requests from the attendees of the maiden breakfast meeting requesting for invites to the next meeting. Once again, after much reluctance, another meeting was organized within a short period, and about 200 Pastor’s Wives were in attendance. It became clear that the vision was not meant to be handled sporadically. There was need for proper structure and planning, and like-minded ‘workers’ in His vineyard, who would work together to fulfil this vision. Thus, IPWF was officially incorporated as a Not-for Profit, Faith-based organisation, with a Board of Trustees reflective of the different denominations, who have been participating in its programmes. The Interdenominational Pastors’ Wife Forum (IPWF) has been birthed to Celebrate, Support, Encourage and Equip Pastors’ wives; both established and emerging Pastors’ wives.
IPWF will also provide opportunities for experienced Pastor’s Wives to give back to the younger generation, glean from others, and also be a blessing.

Adebola Atoyebi
(President)